According to reports, Chelsea are set to prepare a huge bid for Roma’s Antonio Rudiger and are going to retain Alexandre Pato for the coming season.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Corinthians believe Pato will stay on at Chelsea next season. The Brazilian arrived on loan in January and has made only two appearances for the Blues’, scoring once. Apparently Antonio Conte, who is set to take over from Guus Hiddink in the summer, is a fan of the former AC Milan striker and could convert the loan to a permanent transfer.
Corinthians club President Roberto de Andrade stated recently that the Coringão are open to Pato returning if Chelsea choose not to buy him in the summer. He also insisted that Pato would be used as a member of the squad if he were to return. He said, “He still has a contract with us which has to be honoured. So nothing has changed in the situation regarding Pato”.
Amidst news that Roma’s Radja Nainggolan has agreed a move to Chelsea in the summer, a report from Daily Star states that Chelsea are set to bid £23.3m for centre back Antonio Rudiger. The German international is on loan at Roma from VFB Stuttgart. Roma have a compulsory purchase option to buy Rudiger after the end of the season, and the Giallorossi would stand to make a decent profit if they sold him to Chelsea immediately after doing so. Chelsea tried to bring the 23-year old to Stamford Bridge when their pursuit of John Stones failed, but it was too late as Roma took Rudiger on loan.
Chelsea’s rebuilding project
It goes without saying that Chelsea are in dire need of reinforcements. They need an injection of life to their ailing back four and their forward line of Costa, Remy and Falcao have terrible injury records. Remy and Falcao have hardly been available for selection this season, whereas the young Bertrand Traore is yet to be given enough number of games to try and prove himself.
The targets Chelsea have been linked to show great promise but only Antonio Conte will know with what players he wishes to build his Chelsea squad. With a lack of Champions League football and clubs richer than ever before, it’s going to take a special kind of incentive for top class players to come to London and help take Chelsea back to the top of the league.
